Ameliorative potential of rice hull and straw in the ecological restoration of mine degraded soils | IJAAR 2022

Author Information

Gelian Aranas-Rasonable  from the Institute of the Cabadbaran City National High School, Brgy. 12, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines.

Grethyl Catipay-Jamero from the Institute of the Cabadbaran City National High School, Brgy. 12, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines.

Chris P. Rasonable from the Institute of the Calamba National High School, Brgy. Calamba, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines.

Gemma A. Asufre from the Institute of the Department of Agriculture, Region XIII, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines.

Journal Name

 International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research | IJAAR

Abstract

Rice hull and straw are renewable wastes contain 28-30% of inorganic and 70-72% of organic compounds. Its ameliorative potential in enhancing the physicochemical properties of mine degraded soils was investigated. Soils collected from Backfill Material/Overburden (BM) and desilted materials (DM) from settling ponds of Carrascal Nickel Corporation (CNC) were used following six treatments. BM and DM from settling ponds were treated with rice hull and rice straw with 2:1 ratio by weight, respectively. After ameliorating soils from overburden and silted materials from CNC with rice straw and rice hull, observations showed that there are no significant differences in pH, % Organic Matter (OM) and phosphorous (P) between treatments; there is high significant difference (p<0.01) in potassium (K) between treatments except between treatment 3 (soil 1 with rice straw) and treatment 6 (soil 2 with rice hull) where there is no significant difference noted; and the concentrations of Ca, Mg, S and Zn in soils with rice hull did not differ with soils before amelioration, but differed to soils with rice straw, while results in soil texture exhibited otherwise. Therefore, rice straw and rice hull have ameliorative properties that will improve the physico-chemical characteristics of mine degraded soils. It is recommended that rice straw and rice hull will be allowed to decompose in mine degraded soils to enhance its physico-chemical properties. It is also recommended to conduct studies on the response of different crops to mine degrade soils ameliorated with rice straw and rice hull. 

Introduction

Nickel mining operations are large industries in the Philippines that extensively impacted large land areas. The surface mining of nickel seriously damages the surface soil, removing the local flora and fauna with the removal of the soil surface horizons. Also, degradation problems are sometimes caused by mining waste such as overburden, discards and mine effluents. Revegetating the area is one way to stabilize the surface soil. However, mine degraded soil is a difficult medium to prepare for a successful revegetation. It is possible to revegetate the covering topsoil, but the sustainability of conventional procedures is often poor. Liming and fertilizing the covering topsoil, does not necessarily ensure a viable growth medium for plants for prolonged periods. Vegetation would hardly survive due to unsustainable growth of the roots. As a result, the covering topsoil becomes unstable, and susceptible to erosion. Fertilization and liming to augment soil nutrient and regulate soil pH are recommended but very expensive. Large amounts of lime and fertilizer are also used to rehabilitate these areas, but are often not sustainable as the soil is bare and susceptible to erosion during rainfall and high temperature during dry months which considerably changes soil pH. However, discontinuation of fertilization can cause decrease production and vegetative cover on marginal sites. Presently, no effective and economical mitigation is being recommended to revegetate the area and create a sustainable system. The challenge is thus to find alternative methods to which will be sustainable.

Understanding that surface mining often require removal of surface soil horizons instantly shrinks the soil organic matter pool. This resulted to the ability of soil to replenish organic matter via net primary production that is repressed by altered nutrient, water and soil temperature regimes. Then, waterholding capacity is reduced by lack of soil organic matter and by increased runoff capacity due to lower porosity (increased bulk density) and infiltration. Soil microbial activity is also negatively affected. Amelioration using organic amendments affect soil properties in numerous and variable ways (Larney et al., 2009). Soil organic matter is generally considered the single most important property affecting quality and functioning of soils (Gregorich et al., 1994). As expected, application of organic amendments results in an immediate increase in soil organic carbon, which is generally proportional to the amount of carbon applied (Chantigny et al., 1999). However, in cases of high background levels and or high variability, changes in soil organic carbon following low or moderate application rates may not be measurable or detectable (Viaud et al., 2011). 

The rate of decomposition of organic amendments and soil organic carbon remaining over the long term vary with intrinsic quality of the amendment (Lashermes et al., 2009). Carbon in organic amendments was originally fixed by plants through photosynthesis. The chemical composition and physical characteristics of organic amendments will depend on the type of vegetation from which they are derived (e.g., trees vs. annual agricultural crops) and on the fate and transformation of the plant carbon following its harvest. For instance, cereal straw can either be incorporated directly into the soil or become part of manure (via bedding), which is eventually land applied in fresh or composted forms. If the latter, it will undergo decomposition (mineralization and transformation) that will modify its properties, more so during composting, where labile carbon forms are mineralized such that the remaining carbon is more stable and results in greater increases in soil organic matter per unit of carbon applied than fresh plant materials in the long term (Lashermes et al., 2009). Effects of the organic matter to the soil can be direct, through the intrinsic properties of the organic amendments themselves, or indirect, by modifying soil physical, biological and chemical properties. Hence, the type of organic amendments used as ameliorant matters. High organic carbon content provides an instant energy source, which boosts soil microbial activity, and organic matter improves poor soil physical conditions resulting from topsoil loss and compaction.

While rice husk and straw are largely considered waste products are often burned in preparation for the next planting season or dumped on landfills (Gummert, 2003). Rice hull and rice straw are produced in volume during rice harvest in the Philippines. Burning of rice straws and other agricultural wastes contributes more to air pollution than vehicle emissions (Philstar Global, 2006). Hence, disposal of rice straw as a byproduct resulting from the cultivation of rice is causing worldwide environmental and health problems. According to rice farmers in Caraga region, rice hull and straw are burned as being the cheapest method of disposal. The practice which is observed to be common in rice fields in the region does not only generate smoke, but also breathable particulate matter and dust that contains crystalline silica and other health hazard substances (Damatty and Hussain, 2009). Approximately 5,073,880 tons of rice hull and straw are burned annually according to the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) of DOST, in every 250 kg of rice straw and 100 kg of rice hull burned per ton of rice produced.

Utilization of rice straw and rice husks has been practiced in the field for some time (Ponamperuma, 1982). Research has shown that assimilation of rice straw and rice hull with the soil can significantly improve soil properties through decreasing soil bulk density, improving soil pH, accumulating organic carbon, enhancing available nutrients and eliminating heavy metals from the system, which ultimately enhancing crop yields (Saunders and Williams, 1955). Rice hull and straw as annually renewable wastes contain 28-30% of inorganic and 70-72% of organic compounds (Sergienko et al., 2004). According to Koz’mina, (1976) the composition of the organic compounds includes C, H, O, N. The inorganic components are represented mainly by silica (Sergienko et al., 2004). These organic materials are not yet tested as ameliorant to mining degraded soil. Thus this study investigated the ameliorative potential of rice hull and straw in the ecological restoration of mine degraded soils. Specifically, the study determined the physicochemical parameters of mining degraded soils before and after the application of rice straw and rice hull; and the significant difference in the physico-chemical parameters of mining degraded soils before and after the application of rice straw and rice hull. The results of the study can be used as bases in recommending rice straw and rice hull in improving and restoring mine degraded soils. Utilization of rice straw and rice hull will also decrease volume of farm wastes and will improve soil properties by decreasing soil bulk density, enhancing soil pH, adding organic carbon, increasing available nutrients and removing heavy metals from the system, ultimately increasing crop yields. The study was conducted in three months’ period including the collection and analysis of sample. Experimental phase of the study was done in pot trials in controlled condition for thirty days. Analyses of soil samples was done in Integrated Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture Caraga Region. Check out more Ameliorative potential of rice hull and straw in the ecological restoration of mine degraded soils

Reference

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Damatty AAE, Hussain I. 2009. Appropriate Technologies for Environmental Protection in the Developing World.” Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada © Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

Gregorich EG, Carter MR, Angers DA, Monreal CM, Ellert BH. 1994. “Towards a minimum data set to assess soil organic matter quality in agricultural soils.” Can. J. Soil Sci 74, 367-385.

Gummert M. 2013. “A second life for rice husk.” The Responsible Business Summit New York. (May): https://www.eco-business.com/news/second-life-rice-husk/.

Koz’mina EP. 1976. (Ed.). “Ris i ego kachestvo [Rice and Its Quality].” Moscow: Kolos 1976.

Larney FJ, Olson AF, Miller JJ, DeMaere PR, Zvomuya F, McAllister TA. 2009. Physical and chemical changes during composting of wood chip-bedded and straw-bedded beef cattle feedlot manure. Journal of Environmental Quality 37, 725-735. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2007.0351

Lashermes G, Nicolardot B, Parnaudeau V, Thurie` s L, Chaussod R, Guillotin ML, Line`res M, Mary B, Metzger L, Morvan T, Tricaud A, Villette C, Houot S. 2009. “Indicator of potential residual carbon in soils after exogenous organic matter application.” Eur. J. Soil Sci 60, 297-310.

Philstar Global. “Burning of rice straw, agri waste threatens the environment” Philstar Global, July. 2006. https://www.philstar.com /business/agriculture/2006/07/30/350114/burning-rice-straw-agri-waste-threatens-environment#as7V A4Ik85vwDkB7.99

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Sergienko VI, Zemnukhova LA, Egorov AG, Shkorina ED, Vasilyuk NS. 2004. Vozobnovlyaemye, 2004 istochniki khimicheskogo syr’ya: kompleksnaya pererabotka otkhodov proizvodstva risa i grechikhi [Renewable Sources of Chemical Raw Materials: Complex Processing of Rice and Buckwheat Production Waste]. Russian Chemical Society Journal of them. DI. Mendeleev XLVIII(3), 116-124.

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Anopheles stephensi: The emerging vector of malaria in the Republic of Djibouti, Horn of Africa | IJB 2023

Larval collections from A. stephensi breeding sites.

In this study we identified A. stephensi and A. gambiae SL. as the two major malaria vectors in the Republic of Djibouti. A. stephensi mosquitoes was present in all the 6 regions investigated suggesting that this species has become established in the country after its first detection in only Djibouti-ville in 2013. A. nili somalicus, A. dthali and A. azaniae were the secondary malaria vectors collected across the South-North transect. Insecticide resistance testing of the A. stephensi populations from Djibouti showed phenotypic resistance to organochlorine, pyrethroids, organophosphates and carbamates revealing the urgency to develop and implement a programme for monitoring and managing insecticide resistance in local vector populations with efficient control strategies at country level.

Author Name

Renaud Govoetchan*, Mohamed Mousse Ibrahim, Arthur Sovi, Houssein Mouhamed Omar, Abdillahi Omar Boulhan, and Houssein Youssouf Darar

Journal Name

International Journal of Biosciences | IJB |

Publisher Name

International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub

Abstract

The present study investigated mosquito species composition and phenotypic insecticide resistance profile to support decision-making in vector control in the Republic of Djibouti at the Horn of Africa. Adult mosquitoes were collected between December 2016 and December 2017 across 20 sentinel sites established in the 6 regions of the country using both Centers for Disease Control (CDC) miniature light traps and pyrethrum spray catches (PSC). Female mosquitoes were kept aside, for morphological identification to species by an expert entomologist using appropriate taxonomic keys by Gillies & Coetzee and Glick. Bioassays were also conducted in An. stephensi from Djibouti-ville against nine insecticides used in public health. A total number of 12,538 host-seeking mosquitoes belonging to four genera (Anopheles, Culex, Aedes, Uranotaenia) comprising 12 species were collected. Among these, A. gambiae S.L. and A. stephensi were the two major malaria vectors identified while secondary malaria vectors such as A. nili somalicus, A. dthali and A. azaniae were also collected. Culex quinquefasciatus was the most abundant mosquito species in the 6 regions. WHO susceptibility tests performed on A. stephensi population from Djibouti-ville showed resistance to pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates and DDT. The resistance intensity bioassays indicated low to moderate intensity of resistance with pyrethroid insecticides and the organophosphate pirimiphos methyl. Meanwhile pre-exposure to PBO suggested involvement of P450 detoxification enzymes in pyrethroid resistance. These findings revealed the urgent need to develop and implement a programme for monitoring and managing insecticide resistance in local vector populations with efficient control strategies in Djibouti.

Larval collections from sites

Introduction

Located in the Horn of Africa, the Republic of Djibouti shares borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia and has just over 300 km of coastline along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Hatem, 1996). With an area of 23,200km² consisting mainly of plateau, plains and highlands, the Republic of Djibouti has a hot and humid climate, with a temperature that varies between 30°C in January and 43°C in July with an average humidity of 69% (Schulman, 2019). Rainfall is rare (<130mm annually), however unusual rains may occur across the country causing heavy rainfall and flooding in residential areas of the capital Djibouti-ville (Schulman, 2019).

In the Republic of Djibouti, mosquito-borne diseases are primarily transmitted by malaria vectors and secondarily dengue fever vectors, followed by other diseases with suspected cases such as West Nile virus and Leishmaniasis (Faulde et al., 2012; Rodier, 1995). While the Horn of Africa is known to be highly susceptible to mosquito-borne diseases, the Republic of Djibouti was historically thought to be a malaria meso to hypo-endemic country with intermittent epidemics (Rodier, 1995). However local populations have experienced only low and unstable malaria transmission and intermittent epidemics (Fox et al., 1991; Fox et al., 1989) with most of cases detected in people returning from neighbouring countries (Khaireh et al., 2013; Crowell et al., 2012).

The first case of malaria was reported at the very beginning of the 20th century, but it was not common until 1984 that malaria became a public health problem after a significant number of imported malaria cases were recorded. Since then, malaria cases have continued to increase, most importantly in Djibouti-ville. From 1988, there was an increase in malaria cases throughout the country, even in the regions of Tadjourah and Obock that were not affected in the past. In order to address the progression of the disease, the country implemented its first vector control programs based initially on larval control (Louis, 1988; Carteron et al., 1979) strengthened later with the introduction of insecticide-treated bed nets.

Unfortunately, investments and control efforts did not commensurate with the risks of disease, and major malaria outbreaks were reported. In 1991, a record of 7,338 microscopically confirmed malaria cases declining to 4,770 cases in 1993 (Rodier, 1995). 

Contrastingly, an unusual increase of malaria cases was reported in 1999 in and around Djibouti-ville due to the emergence of chloroquine resistance (Rogier et al., 2011). The cases detected were mainly caused by Plasmodium falciparum but also P. vivax which was responsible of 3% of malaria burden (UNDP, 2013). The last uncommon urban outbreak of malaria was observed in 2013 with 1228 reported cases of which 83% were from Djibouti-ville alone (UNDP, 2013). 

The entomological surveillance in Republic of Djibouti was not a routine exercise and as such the monitoring programme at country level is very poor. Most of the existing data were generated as part of the international European Union Naval Force Somalia mission “Atalanta” (Faulde et al., 2012; Faulde & Ahmed, 2010) by the country's military partners that have troops based at various locations throughout the territory. The local malaria transmission was attributed to Anopheles arabiensis in all the 6 regions of the country (WHO, 2012). 

However, a larval survey has reported the presence of A. nili in Ali Sabieh, southern region of Djibouti. More recently, A. stephensi, the Asian malaria mosquito vector of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax was incriminated in the outbreak which occurred in 2013 (Faulde et al., 2014). 

The current study updates malaria entomological data mandatory for decision making on control strategies implementation. The data was generated over a recent entomological surveillance conducted between December 2016 and December 2017, in 20 sentinel sites located along the south-north transect of Djibouti Republic. Mosquito species compositions, as well as insecticide resistance status of the main malaria vector identified in the Djibouti-ville were assessed to support decision-making for the implementation of an efficient control program. Check out more Anopheles stephensi: The emerging vector of malaria in the Republic of Djibouti, Horn of Africa

Reference

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The Occurrence of the least Pipistrelle Bat, Pipistrellus tenuis in Goalpara District, Assam, India | JBES 2023

 

Author Name

Jugal Kishore Talukdar (Department of Zoology, Bhattadev University-Bajali, Pathsala, Assam, India)

Akshay Kumar Haloi  (Department of Zoology, Bhattadev University-Bajali, Pathsala, Assam, India)

Journal Name

Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES

Publisher Name

International Network for Natural Sciences | INNSpub

Abstract

A recent survey identified a colony of Pipistrellus tenuis (n = 5) in Kanyakuchi Pahar village (26°00’32.8″N 90°53’29.0″E), a rural remote site situated at Goalpara district of Assam. This species, commonly known as the Least Pipistrelle, was previously reported by Hinton and Lindsay (1926), Sinha (1999), Ghosh (2008), Saikia et al. (2011) and Boro et al. (2018) from different parts of Assam. The Goalpara district of western Assam is encircled by the foothills of Meghalaya to the South and the Brahmaputra River to the North possesses a variety of flora and fauna due to the dense foliage of the high forest canopy. The climatic condition of the region along with its topography favours roosting of bat population. The distribution of the bat species P. tenuis in the surveyed area has not been previously recorded. For the purpose of taxonomic identification, morphometric parameters (external and cranio-dental measurements) were compared to standard literature by Bates and Harrison (1997). Captured bat specimens (n=3) were examined at the ZSI (Zoological Survey of India), NERC-Shillong, Meghalaya. The recorded mean body weight of captured specimens was 2.61g ± 0.160 (S.D) and the mean forearm length (FA) was 27.39mm ± 0.165 (S.D). This manuscript validates sightings of this bat species at the study location, compares its morphometric and cranio-dental traits to standard literature (Bates and Harrison, 1997) for identification, discusses its distribution as well as its ecological importance.

Introduction

Bats are the only mammals that can fly for long periods of time, making them the second-largest order of mammals with over 1,400 different species. The two suborders of bats, Microchiroptera (echolocating bats) and Megachiroptera (Old World bats) make up the taxonomic group Chiroptera. 127 species of bats from India were listed by Talmale and Saikia (2018) and were categorised into 41 genera and 9 families. About 39 different bat species, divided into 16 genera, are found in Assam, including 34 Microchiropteran species and 5 Megachiropteran species (fruit bats) (Ali, 2022). The Himalaya and Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, which includes Northeast India, contains 74 species of the 127 species of bats that are known to exist in India (Saikia, 2019). There are nine families in the order Chiroptera that are represented in India: Pteropodidae, Megadermatidae, Hipposideridae, Rhinolophidae, Emballonuridae, Rhinopomatidae, Molossidae, Vespertilionidae, and Miniopteridae.

With 62 species, the family Vespertilionidae (commonly known as evening bats) is the most diverse and numerous family of bats found in India (Saikia 2019; Ali, 2022). The tiniest pipistrelle found in the Indian subcontinent belongs to the Vespertilionidae family and is known as the least pipistrelle (Figs. 2 and 3). The genus Pipistrellus has 51 species worldwide, including 12 species being found on the Indian subcontinent (Koopman, 1993). It's prevalent over the majority of Southeast Asia, Southeast China, and South Asia (Simmons, 2005). This species is found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka (Molur et al., 2002; Das, 2003; Vanitharanie, 2006; Korad, 2007). This bat occasionally shares a roost with Indian Pipistrelles, but they don't interact with one another. They frequently form colonies of 1 to 25 individuals and are present in both woodlands and populated places and often prefer living in close proximity to human population. They build their nests in trees, leaf canopies, the ceilings or walls of buildings, and abandoned homes (Francis et al., 2010). Seasonal variations in the species' diet are evident.

It consumes a variety of insects and beetles during the monsoon and summer, and termites, cockroaches, wingless ants, and moths during the winter (Hamidullah et al., 2019).

P. tenuis are categorised as insectivorous bats in terms of preferred diet and feeding habits. A typical pipistrelle bat can often consume one-third of its body weight in insects per night, significantly lowering the number of insects. They devour a lot of insects at night, which costs the US $3.7 billion in pest control every year. It has been shown, according to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the University of Michigan that places with insectivorous bat populations greatly reduce the amount of insects and plant damage (Kalka et al., 2008). Recent study on the reproductive activity of the P. tenuis species indicate that there are two peaks between the months of July and August, and one between February and March. The greatest abundance of prey occurred during each of these times. In China and India, pregnant and nursing females have been spotted at all times of the year, proving that reproduction is possible all year long (Wilson and Mittermeier, 2019). Due to their nocturnal lifestyle and ecological diversity, bats are a fascinating group of animals as well as a difficult species to research.

A number of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India and other institutions have made significant contributions to the study of Indian bat taxonomy and geographic distribution in the post-independence era. Some of the most important revisions of the geographical range and taxonomy of Indian bats include Brosset (1962abc, 1963); Hill and Corbett (1992); Bhat and Kock (1994); Sinha (1970, 1973, 1999); Bates & Harrison (1997); Pradhan (2008); Das (2003); Csorba et al. (2003); Ramarkishna et al. (2003); Ghosh (2005, 2008); Srinivasulu (2001, 2006); Alfred, (2006). A monograph by Bates & Harrison (1997) listed 28 species of bats from Assam. Recently, there are only a few significant works on the study of different species of bats in the state of Assam by Sinha (1999), Ghosh (2008) and Boro et al. (2013; 2015; 2018), Ali (2010; 2022), Rahman and Choudhury (2017), Saikia et al. (2011; 2018; 2019; 2021).

Furthermore, little is known about the distribution and taxonomic status of bats, notably microchiroptera, in the Assam region. This article aims to investigate the distribution and current status of the Pipistrellus genus in Assam's Goalpara district. This paper on Pipistrellus tenuis occurence is the first at the study site (Fig. 1) and is based on measurements of morphometric features in comparison to current standard literature (Bates and Harrison, 1997). Check out more The occurence of the least pipistrelle Bat, Pipistrellus tenuis (Temminck, 1840) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Goalpara District, Assam, India

Reference

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Interaction on the Diet and Substrate on the Growth of Archachatina Marginata in Breeding | JBES 2023

Author Information

Kouassi Kouadio Daniel* (Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie Tropicale,Boîte Postale, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire) 

N’guessan N’guessan Olivier (Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie Tropicale,Boîte Postale, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire) 

Aman Jean-Baptiste (Université Nangui Abrogoua, Laboratoire de Biologie et Cytologie Animales, Côte d'Ivoire)

Journal Name

Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES

Publisher Name

International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub

Abstract

Nine hundred juveniles of Archachatina marginata aged about two weeks, with an average live weight of 2.25 g with an average shell length of 20.12mm were monitored in culture for six (6) months on five types of substrates [S1 (soil collected in a cassava plantation: Manihot sp.), S2 (S1 with 10% oyster shell meal), S3 (S1 with 10% sawdust), S4 (S1 with 5% oyster shell meal and 5% sawdust) and S5 (uncultivated forest soil). Four diets including two industrial (D1 and D 2 of 12% and 16% calcium respectively) and two based on fodder (D3 and D4 based on leaves and fruit of the papaya (Carica papaya) on the one hand and a mixture of papaya leaves and taro (Xanthosoma maffafa) on the other hand, were used. In order to determine the best combinations inducing the best growth performance, 20 combinations were formed at the rate of 45 spat for each combination; three replicas of 15 spat each. This study showed that the combination of diet and livestock substrate influences the growth of Archachatina marginata. Although the best feed is D1 (74.68 g and 7.94cm) and the best substrate is S2 (77.12 g and 7.79cm), the best combinations are D2S3 (69.37 g and 7.47cm), D1S4 (74.68 g and 7.94cm and D4S2 (77.12 g and 7.79cm). The combined effect of the high level of dietary calcium and that of the culture substrate does not promote good growth of snails. This work will help improve the production of African giant snails and provide important data for anyone wishing to engage in the breeding of these animals.

Introduction

Naturally available food resources play a fairly substantial role in populations (Sodjinou et al., 2002). Among these resources, African giant snails (or Achatines) belonging to the family Achatinidae are found there. These snails are highly valued by many African populations (Zongo 1995). For example, Achatine meat is the most consumed meat in South Benin ahead of aulacode, chicken, sheep or goats, beef and pork (Sodjinou et al., 2002). It is estimated that in Côte d'Ivoire, the population eats 7.9 million kg of snails per year, while in Ghana; demand clearly exceeds production capacity (Cobbinah et al., 2008).

Unfortunately, these protein resources are becoming scarce in their natural environment. To compensate for these deficits, heliculture is one of the alternatives to diversify the sources of animal protein of populations. It is therefore right that initiatives to breed these animals should be carried out in order to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for their consumption, but also to ensure the sustainability of the resource. Thus, several research initiatives on the pace of activity, growth (Ejidike et al., Otchoumou et al., 2004; Kouassi et al., 2016), on reproduction (Otchoumou et al., 2005, Kouassi, 2008) as well as on snail farming substrate were supported (Kouassi et al., 2016; Awohouedji et al., 2017). Indeed, the success of such breeding goes beyond the control of the feed, the breeding substrate, the pathology of these animals, but also and above all by a healthy appreciation of the food according to the different types of breeding substrate.

Thus, the substrate is a key element for snails as it is both a source of mineral nutrients and a refuge. In terms of snail production, several studies have shown the effect of feeding (Kouassi et al., 2007, Kouassi, 2002) or farming substrate on the growth and reproduction of these animals by a variation in calcium levels. However, to our knowledge, no studies have yet been devoted to the combined effect of diet and substrate. The objective of this study is to highlight the combined effect of diet and culture substrate on the live weight and growth of the shell of Archachatina marginata in order to optimize its rearing. It was therefore necessary to evaluate the combined effect of food and substrate on the weight and shell growth of snails. Check out more by following the link Interaction on the diet and substrate on the growth of Archachatina marginata in breeding

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